Flowerpot scrubbing machine



J. ALBANY FLowERPoT SCRUBBING MACHINE Dec. 22, 1931.

Filed Nov. 1, 1929 3 .'heets-Sheet l Dec. 22, 1931. J ALBANY 1,837,389

FLOWERPOT SCRUBBING MACHINE @My/@W J. ALBANY FLOWERPOT SCRUBB ING MACHINE Filed Nov. l, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 een Patented Dec. 22, 1931amara-noa seminale mesma attualita innestate 1f, una. seria-1 No.4eins-o.

My .present invention relates toV machines which vareYparticularlyadapted for scrubbing andV `cleaning vflower pots 'or similar shapeddevices. ,Y f l The item 'of vscrub'bing land cleaning flower pots,among florists and greenhousefoperators, is a large one, particularly atthose `seasons of the 4year when the 'sa-le 4of flowers for pottedplants is the heaviest. :It isfdesirable, `io and in fact necessary,that each individual pot be scrubbed and cleaned on its exterior,

before delivery` toa ciistomer, and. it is theclean the exterior of aflower -po'tvwithout 'removi-ng the plant Vor earth ,from the v'saidpot.

Anotherfan'd important feature of my present invention residesintheprovision 0f-a machine of this nature inwhich the motor E 'andspeed reduction unit Awill be -continuoiisly operated, but the scouringbrushes 'andtheir l supports will be stationary until a predeterminedmoment, that is, until the placin'gbf a Y pot within the scouringreceptacle and until the lapplying of pressure downwardly no'n said pot.1 v f Another objectief my invent-,ibn is to provide means forsimultaneouslyradially adjusting the 'cleaning brushes relative tothe i"40 pot support, or the `pot itself. :Ih this manner theV brushes may benfovedaway froina .pot to permit .removal thereof, or :may be radiallyadjusted to? acconnnodate pots: of different widths/' Another feature of'my inventionresides in the particular structure and mechaiiisiir bymeans of which I am enabled to accomplish v ,the above mentionedsimultaneous radial adjustment ofthe brushes; y v

Another feature of `my invention resides in in their holders. Y

:novel machine gV with the provision of spring means cooperating withthebru'shes to retain "said brushes v Further features' and `objects theinvention reside in particular details of co`nstru "3 tion of thevarious chine. Y

All `of the above, andjotherl objects of the portions of my novelmanovel brush retaining means, by means of i which the Vbrushes may bereadily `removed and replaced, or reversedif desire-d, togetherinvention, features, details of construction,

icoinbinatio'ns of parts, and advantages, will be hereinafter -morefully pointed out, described and claimed.A l

, -I believe that my present flower pot scrub-V :bin-g m`achi'ne,"a'safbove briefly described, is

novehand have therefore claimed the same inthe present application. j Y

Referring `to the drawings, illustrating a .preferred embodiment of thepresent invention', Y Fig. l isa vertical sectional view of my Fig. 2 isa top plan view of `said machine;

' Figlvi's a plan sectionalv view on the line ift-5 3 of Fig. l; y Y YFig. i is VEan elevation of the scouring porv tion ,of my machine,particularly in section toillustrate theV clutch inechanism;

Figf., is a Cross sectional view on the linev '5%5ofFigz1; v. 1 .ff Fig.6 is a cross `sectional;fvie'w on the line ege einig-a; llfigf?l iscrosssectional 7%,7 ofFig. 3; and, I Y Fig. 8 is across sectionalfviewof a brush and holder on the line 8-'-8 'of Fi 1l'.

Referring now tothe drawings ora partic'ular description-ofthei'nventio'n, its con! view onfthe line' ent novel machine comprises aframework iso tsr,

l constituting arbase, a tank Qbeing secured Y Y to angley irons31e-which are in turnsecured to the framework l. '.Mounted in .theframeworlr 1,l on suitable supports 4, is 4a motor 5, the motorshaft 6driving, through a uni- Y 'versah coupling 7, a shaft 8, said shaft,.8

in turn operating a gear reduction vunit 9.

Ehegearreduction unit 9 is of standard "conif CTI struction, and themotor 5, unitr9 and shafts 6, 7 and 8, are a common article ofmanufacture, so that details of construction thereof need not be hereinfurther described. Vertically projecting from the unit 9 is a shaft 10driving, through the medium of a universal coupling 11, a shaft 12.Afxed to this shaft 12 is a sleeve 13 having thereon a collar 14 andone-half 15 of a clutch. The other half 16 of the clutch is formed on ashaft 17, said shaft being hollowed, at its lower end as at 13, toaccommodate the upper end of the shaft 'l2 and forni a bearing andguiding means therefor. rihe shaft 17 has a collar 19 thereon, andbetween the collar 14 `and collar 19 is a coiled spring 2U, which,bearing against the collar 19 normally tends to force the shaft 17upwardly, and thus normally 1Keeping the clutch sections 15 and 16 indisengaged position.

A pair of angle irons 21 are secured to the frame 1, and on top of theseangle irons is secured a washer 22, and interposed. between the washer22 and the bottom 23 of the tanlr 2 is a gasket 24. A sleeve 25surroundsthe shaft 17 and has a collar 26 e1;- tending therefrom. interposedbetween the collar 26 and the bottom 23 of the tank 2 is a gasket 27,the sleeve 25 being securely retained in position by means of bolts 28passing upwardly tarough the angle irons 21 and into the collar 26. Thelower end of the sleeve 25 is provided with an enlarged rcess 29 toenable the sleeve to be slid over the collars 19 and 14, to conceal andprotect the spring 20 and the clutch members' 15 and 16. A cap 39 issecured to the lower end of the sleeve 25 by means of a set screw 31,lubrication being admitted to the recess 29 through an aperture 32. Y

Splined to the upper end of the shaft 17 is the depending hollow boss33V of a pla-te 34, a washer 35 being fixed to the lower end of theportion 33 by screws 36, a iianged ring 37 fixed to the collar 26 byscrews 38 constituting a retainer for said washer 35. lNithin the sleeve25 is a paclring39 surrounding the shaft 17, a gland 40 being threadedto the upper end of said sleeve 25, adjustment of the gland 40 beingeffected by inserting a pin or the lilre through the elongated slot41 inthe depending portion 33, and then rotating said portion 33 to tightenor loosen the gland 40Y as desired..

The plate 34 is provided with a plurality of recesses 42, and the plate43 beneath the` plate 34 is provided with a plurality of recesses 44, bymeans of which apertures the plates and' 43 may be rotated relative toeach other. rllhe plates 34 and 43 are clamped together by means of abolt 45 and nut 46, the bolt 45 being square as illustrated at 47, topermit manipulation of the nut 46 without rotation of the bolt -45.

An arcuate slot 48 is provided adjacent to the periphery of the plate43, and the bolt 45 extends upwardly through this slot 48. Therefore, onloosening of the nut 46, the two plates 34 and 43 may be rotatedrelative to each other within the limits of the length of the slot 48.When rotated to desired position, the nut 46 may then be tightened andthe two plates 43 and 34 will be securely clamped together.

The plate 34 is provided with a plurality of straight slots 49 and theplate 43 is provided with a plurality of arcuate slots 50. Mounted onthe plate 34 are a plurality of brush supports 51, each having adepending lug 52 seated in a slot 49. Located in each arcuate slot 50 isan arcuate flanged slide block 53, a bolt 54 extending through eachblock 53 and into each lug 52 and retaining said blocks in positionwhile still permitting sliding of said blocks 53 in their slots 50.

lt will thus be instantly apparent that, on rotation of the plates 34and 43 relative to each other, the blocks 53 will slide in their slots50, and Vwill eii'eet a simultaneous radial adjustment of the brushsupports 51 either toward the centea1 or away therefrom.

Aplurality of brushes comprising backs 55 and bristles 56 are provided,each back being inserted into its support 51, as clearly illustrated inFigures 1, 2, 4 and 8. Each back 55 is providedwith a pair of notches5", and affixed to each support 51 is a spring 53 having a detent 59adapted to snap into one of the notches 57. Thus these brushes 55 may bereversed, by withdrawal from the supports 51 .and reversing the ends.When the brushes vare reinserted in the supports 51, the detents 59 willengage the uppermost notch 57, preventing aecidental removal of thebrushes 55 from their supports.

Ailixed to the upper end of the shaft 17 is one race 60 of ananti-friction bearing, the other race 61 being carried by a cap 62, saidcap having a'central boss 63.

The operation of my present novel machine is simple, and will be readilyunderstood by those skilled inthe art.

It being desired to scrub or scour a pot, for example as illustrated indotted lines at 64 in Fig. 1, the brush supports 51 are adjusted to thediameter required to accommodate the pot 64. The motor 5 may be inconstant operation, as well as the reduction unit 9 and shaft 12. Beforethe pot 64 is applied' to the machine, the clutch sections 15 and 16will be disengaged, as illustrated in Fig. 4. When the pot is insertedwithin the confines of the brushes, it is centered by the boss 63engaging the central aperture in the bottom of said pot. Thereuponpressure of the pot 64 downwardly will effect engagement or meshing ofthe vclutch section 16 with the clutch section 15 brushes carriedthereby, the cap 62 not rotatllO ing, because ofgthe interpcsitioningofthe anti-friction bearing between said cap and said shafty 17;

The rotation of the bristles 56 about the pot `64 will quickly,efficiently, and positively effect althorough cleaning or scrubbing ofthe pot 64, and the operator may withdraw the clean pot andreplaiceadirty pot inavery short time. If pots .of greateriheight are to 'beutilized, it will be understood thatV brushes ofgfreater lengthfWillalso be utilized, 'It

will be appreciated `that `my novel machineV will enable an operator-tothoroughiyzciean flow-er pots or the like at a much greater rate i ofspeedthan has been heretofore .possible when cleaning such pots byhand,and one operator can clean, by the userof my machine,

as many potsfas a large crew of workmen could ordinarilyl clean. i y

As, soon asipressure .on the pot r64: is re- Vleased,'the spring 20will. force the shaft 17 upwardly )and disen-gage the clutch ,section 16from the clutch .section 15, thus preventing further Vrotation Vofthebrushes until the application ofanother .pot tofatlie machine' undersufficient pressure to again engage said clutch sections. y

A drain pipe 65 is provided, in which is positioned a throttle valve 66and a manipulat- -g ing handle 67, by means of which the tank 2 may bedrained in a very short space of time,

My invention is further described and de-v lined in the form of claimsas follows:

l. In a flower pot scrubbing machine, `a tank adapted to hold a supplyo-f water,` a continuously rotating shaft, a second shaft normallyoperatively disengagedV from said continuously rotating sha-ft, a potsupport brushes around said support having connections with said secondshaftfor revolving around said support, said second shaft be-Y ingdownwardly slidableupo-n the application of pressure on saidsupport, andmeans to transmit rotation of said first shaft to said second shaft andtosaid brushes on downward movement ofs'aid second shaft.

2. In a flower pot scrubbing machine, av

continuously rotating shaft, a second shaft normally operativelyYdisengaged from said continuously rotating shaft, spring means to retainsaid second shaft in'normally dis! engaged position, a pot supportcarried by and rotatable on said second shaft and located in said tank,a plurality of brushes Y second shaft. carried by and'rotatable on saidsecond shaft f and located in said tank, a plurality of around saidsupport having connections with said second Shaft for. revolving aroundsaid support, said .seoondshaft .being downwardly slidable upon theapplication of pressure 0n said support, and means to transmit rotationvof saidv rst shaft .to Said ,Second shaft and to said brushes ondownward inoyfement .ofsaid second shaft, Y 3. In a flower pot scrubbingmachine, a tank adaptedto hold a supply of water, a

.oontinuousl rotatnfy shafts second Shaft normally operativelydisengaged from said continuously rotating shaft, spring inea-ns toretain said' second shaft in normally dis- -Yene'ged POS'iOIle not.Support carried by` yand rotatable on said second shaft ,and located in:said tank, a plurality of brushes around said support havingconnections with saidr second shaft for revolving around said support,lsaid second shaft being downward- 'ly slidable upon the application o-fpuessure on `said support, a clutch section carried by each .of saidshafts, said clutch'sections engaging on downward Vmovement of said Scoond shaft to transmit rotation from said A,continuously rotating shaftto Sai-d `Second ,shaft and to said brushes. v

4l. ln' a flower pct scrubbing machine, a `tank .adapted *to hold a`Supply [0f water, a

continously Vrotating shaft, a-second shaftf normally operativelydisengaged fnonigsaid :continuously rotating shaft, spring means toretain said second shaft in normally disen- .fgaged position, -a :Dotsupport carried by notata-ble :on said second shaft located .said tank,.a vplurality of brushes around said `support having connectionswithsaid-second Y shaft for revolvingaroundsaid support, said secondsha-ftV bei-ng `downwardly slidalble ,u on the ap;y li-cationofnessnreon-said su pont', ,and means to transmit rotation of said firstshaft to said second shaft and to said brushes ondo-wnward movement .fof,said :sec-

ond shaft, said :continuously Rotating shaft y gio projecting into andhaving a bear-ing in 'said continuously `rotating shaft, a second shaft,

a fpo'tsupport carried by said ysecond shaft, a plurality of brushesaround said supporttheapplication of pressure on said V-su-,'r pont, alclutch section carried by eachof said shafts,-

a v.collar on each of saidsgha-f-ts, and a coiled :confined betweensafid @collars to retain said `second .shaftg-in .normally disengagedztion, saidclutch*sections-engaging =.o n ,down-g wardamovement iof:said second n ft to 'transmit rotation froni'isad contin slv ,5. In aflower `pot scrubbing machine, 1a

4 Hspring'V (surrounding said clutch sections and 4. tank adapted tohold a, supply of water, a"

rota "ng ,statt to said second ,shaft @to fsaidbrushes@` y ,Y

.6. Inv'iakower ipot' scrubbing machine,- aiV tank adapted to hold asupply of water, a continuously rotating shaft, a second shaft normallyoperatively disengaged from said continuously rotating shaft, a potsupport carried by and rotatable on said second shaft and located insaid tank, a plate secured to said second shaft within said tank, aplurality of brushes carried by said plate, said second shaft beingdownwardly slidable upon the application of pressure on said support,and means to transmit rotation of said first shaft to said second shaftand to said plate on downward movement of said second shaft.

In a flower pot scrubbing machine, a tank adapted to hold a supply ofwater, a continuously rotating shaft, a second shaft Vnormallyoperatively disengaged from said con tinuously rotating shaft, a potsupport carried by and rotatable on said second shaft and located insaid tank, a plate secured to said second shaft within said tank, aplurality of brushes carried by said plate, said secoue shaftbeingdownwardly slidable upon the application of pressure on said support,means to transmit rotation of said first shaft to said second shaft andto said plate on downward movement of said second shaft, and springmeans to automatically return said second shaft to disengaged positionupon the release of pressure thereon.

8. In a flower pot scrubbing machine, a tank adapted to hold a supply ofwater, a continuously rotatingshaft, a second shaft normally operativelydisengaged from said continuously rotating shaft, a pot support carriedby and rotatable on said second shaft and located in said tank, a platesecured to said second shaft within said tank, a plurality of brushescarried by said plate, said second shaft being downwardly slidable uponthe application of pressure on said support, means to transmit rotationof said first shaft to said second shaft and to said plate on downwardmovement of said second shaft, spring means to automatically return saidsecond shaft to disengaged position upon the release of pressurethereon, and a non-rotatable protecting and concealing cover for saidspring means.

y9. In a flower pot scrubbing machine, a tank adapted to hold a supplyof water, a continuously rotating shaft, a second shaft normallyoperatively disengaged from said continuously rotating shaft, a potsupport carried by and rotatable on said second shaft and located insaid tank, a plate secured to said second shaft within said tank, aplurality of brushes carried by said plate, said second shaft beingdownwardly slidable upon the application of pressure on said support, aclutch section carried by each of said shafts,

' said clutch sections engaging on downward movement of said secondshaft to transmit rotation from said continuously rotating shaft to saidsecond shaft and toV said plate` and spring means to automaticallyreturn said second shaft to disengaged position upon the release ofpressure thereon.

10. In a flower pot scrubbing machine, a tank adapted to hold a supplyof water, a continuously rotating shaft, a second shaft normallyoperatively disengaged from said continuously rotating shaft, a potsupport carried by and rotatable on said second shaft and located insaid tank, a plate secured to said second shaft within said tank, aplurality of brushes carried by said plate, said second shaft beingdownwardly slidable upon the application of pressure on said support, aclutch section carried by each of said shafts, said clutch sectionsengaging on downward movement of said second shaft to transmit rotationfrom said continuously rotating shaft to said second shaft and to saidplate, spring means to automatically return said second shaft todisengaged position upon the release of pressure thereon, and anon-rotat able protecting and concealing cover for said spring means andsaid clutch sections.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN ALBANY.

